“Very good performance, I’ve been very impressed with the players, in training …Jordan football, the future is good. Tough game [against Australia] but we look forward to it,” said the former Tottenham manager.

Australia are two points clear of Jordan at the top of Group B after six wins in seven matches, following a 7-0 win over Tajikstan on Thursday. The QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo scored in the second minute with the captain Mile Jedinak converting a penalty in the 13th minute. Australia had nine shots on goal in the first half to Tajikstan’s one.

“I was lucky to get two goals but it could have been three or four,” said the substitute Tommy Rogic, who plays for Celtic. Nathan Burns also added two goals for Australia.

The Greece-born Apostolos Giannou enjoyed an impressive debut, finishing with four assists, including setting up Luongo’s early strike.

Giannou also earned two penalties – Jedinak’s and the captain’s half-time replacement, Mark Milligan, in the 57th minute.

“Scoring that early goal really helped, and we kept up the pressure in the second half,” said Australia’s manager, Ange Postecoglou. Tajikistan’s manager, Mubin Ergashev, said it was pointless to dwell on the result. “There is no reason to talk too much about this game. We played a good team so we know where we sit.”